To her absolute horror, tears welled in her eyes because being held like this feltsogood. She could have spent an eternity in the sanctuary of Audrey’s arms, but Audrey was already pulling back, still talking about Michelle’s book as she turned to retrieve her satchel. She was ready to get on with her day as if she hadn’t just rocked Michelle’s world, both with her words and with that hug.
“See you later,” Audrey said as she opened the door. “Let’s walk over to the Halloween-party meeting together, okay? And send me more chapters whenever you have them.”
With a wave, she walked across the hall to her own office, leaving Michelle standing there with a hand pressed against her heart, wondering how she was supposed to teach art history after she’d just felt Audrey’s heartbeat against her breast and felt her breath gust against her ear.
How was Michelle supposed to doanythingprofessional now that she knew how it felt to be held in Audrey’s arms?
Chapter Eleven
Audrey stood before the mirror in her bathroom, eyeing herself critically. Halloween had always been an important holiday in her house. Her parents were the sort who dressed in coordinating costumes and hosted a party that they invited not only their own friends to but any friends Audrey and Erik wanted to invite as well.
So she was used to putting more time and effort into her Halloween costumes than the average person. Hell, many of her friends quit dressing up when they hit puberty, but not Audrey. She’d dressed up every year of her life, and this year, she was really looking forward to attending the NU Pride Coalition’s Halloween Spooky Spectacular.
As a professor supervising a student-run party, she’d have to be on her best behavior tonight, but she was going to have fun. The students were a great group. She’d really enjoyed working with them at the planning meetings, and as a bonus, Michelle would be there. Audrey couldn’t wait to see her in a costume.
What would Michelle dress up as? Audrey pegged her for something traditional, like a basic witch, butohwhat she wouldn’t give to see Michelle in something fun, something daring, like ... a Rockford Peach fromA League of Their Own, or Princess Leia, or Xena, Warrior Princess. The possibilities were endless.
As for Audrey, she’d dressed up as Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie from theBarbiemovie. She had on a hot-pink cap sleeve dress, complete with doodles and paint splatters; a spiky blond wig; and colorfulmarkings on her face as if a child had drawn on her with crayon. She’d even stuffed one half of a pair of leggings to make a fake-leg accessory for herself so she could imitate Weird Barbie’s impromptu splits.
Satisfied with her appearance, Audrey applied a coat of red lipstick ... because even Weird Barbie wanted to look nice tonight. It had nothing to do with the fact that Michelle would be at the party, or if it did, Audrey wasn’t admitting it, not even to herself.
She walked to the front door, picking up her hot-pink purse and crayon-scribbled coordinating jacket on the way. Outside, she shivered as she unlocked her car. It was October twenty-fourth, a week before Halloween, and the temperature was in the midfifties, chilly but perfect for a costume party.
Her aging hatchback coughed and groaned as she turned the key. Audrey patted the dash, muttering “please, please ...” until the engine sputtered to life. She really needed this car to hold on for at least one more year. She couldn’t afford car payments yet.
Five minutes later, she strolled into the student center, which had been reserved by the Pride Coalition for the evening. Audrey had been here most of the afternoon helping the students decorate and set up for the party, only returning to her house to get ready. Now cheerful dance music filled the space. Stage smoke billowed from a cauldron in the back while a variety of colorfully costumed people meandered through the room.
At a glance, Audrey saw a nurse, Supergirl, Dracula, several clowns, and a group in coordinatingStar Trekuniforms. She hadn’t even consciously realized who she was looking for until her eyes settled on a distinctive figure in a sweeping black coat and top hat, dark hair neatly curled and pinned beneath.
Michelle had dressed as Anne Lister. It was as surprising as it was perfect, one fearsome lesbian portraying another. Audrey all but swooned on the spot, and then, before she’d even had a chance to fully take in the party, she was making her way toward Michelle.
She turned toward Audrey, revealing the front of the costume, a frilled white dress shirt visible beneath her black vest, andgood god, she had no right to look that hot at a student event. A full skirt swirled around her ankles. Michelle hardly ever wore skirts, and the sight of this one had Audrey’s body temperature rising.
Michelle was perfectly buttoned up beneath multiple layers of fabric. She was covered from chin to foot, no skin on display other than her hands and face, and yet ... this was what made historical romance so appealing, wasn’t it? The implied chasteness of it, the relative indecency of a brush of hands or a glimpse of collarbones.
No doubt about it, Michelle looked so sexy in that Anne Lister costume—sogay—Audrey was about to melt into a puddle of lust right here on the dance floor.
“Audrey,” Michelle said, her brow wrinkling slightly as she took in Audrey’s costume.
“Loveyour costume,” Audrey gushed. “Gentleman Jackfan? Or do you prefer Anne’s original diaries?”
Michelle quirked an eyebrow. “What do you think?”
“The diaries, of course. You’re a historian, so you’d go straight to the original source. And her diaries are fascinating. It’s such a treasure that she documented her life like that.”
There was an unmistakable sparkle in Michelle’s eyes now. “Absolutely. I confess that I’ve read anything and everything I can get my hands on about the illustrious Miss Lister, but it might surprise you to know that I’m also a fan of the show. I thought it was very well done, and of course, Suranne Jones is always fantastic.”
“Agreed. Such a shame it got canceled.”
Michelle sighed. “The downside of capitalism, turning art into a popularity contest. Anyway, I have no idea what your costume is. Enlighten me?”
Audrey grinned. “Aww, Michelle! Don’t tell me you haven’t seen theBarbiemovie. This is a travesty that must be remedied.”
“Oh my god, Dr. Thompson, she’s right,” Gia, one of the students from the Halloween-party-planning committee, said as she joined them. “It’s such a powerful commentary on feminism and female empowerment, plus ... it’s just really fun!”
Michelle looked vaguely confused. “I haven’t seen it, but ... are you Barbie, then? Why is your hair like that? And what’s with the extra leg?”
Audrey struck a pose with the leg, laughing.
